The Irish standard., 1887-11-12


blythe dgnents Of the courts a most
careful consideration Of the whole 4
subject leads me to the conclusion that
the sentence Of the law as to Samuel
Fielden and Michael Schwab may be
modified as to each of them in the in
terest Of humanity and without doing
violence TO public justice. And as to
the said Samuel Fielden and Michael
Schwab the sentence is commuted to
imprisonment in the penitentiary for
life. AS to the 9th er above named de-
PENDANTS I do not feel justified in inter-
fering with the sentence Of the court.
While / would gladly have come to a
different conclusion in regard to the
sentence Of defendants, August Spies,
Adolph Fischer, George Engel, Albert
r. Parsons and Louis Lingg, regret
to say that under the solemn sense of
the obligations of my Office, ] have been
unable to do so.
RICHARD J. OGLEsBY,
Governor
Preparations for the execution COM
menced last night at 1880. The gallows
were put up in the northeast corridor
of the Jail, where for many years all
Cook county hangings have taken place.
The scaffold IS the same as used in this
hanging of the three italian murderers,
but it was heightened for the purpose
of swinging off the four anarchists. 1t
was painted a dead brown color. The
condemned men did not fall asleep un-
til an early hour Friday morning, and
with the exception Of Engel they ali
exhibited more or less signs of agita-
tion. Friends of the condemned men
expressed hope even up to the last hour
that something might interpose to pre-
vent the execution. Captain Black
left no stone unturned to save their
lives. He went to Springfield at
o'clock Friday morning and solicited q
private interview with the Governor at
the executive mansion, but the Cover
nor at 1880 finally and positively re-
fused to interfere with the execution
of Parsons, Spies, Engel and Fischer,
by reprleve Or otherwise.
THE EXECUTION.
At 1880 County Physician Mayer
took his leave Of the men to whose
health he has been daily ministering.
ALL of them shook him by the hand, but
not one of them displayed the slightest
emotion. From 1850 to il Spies occu.
pied himself in reading paper. Par
sons was given cup OF coffee a few
before the march to the scat
fold was begun. The death warrant
was read first to Spies. then Fischer
then Engel, and then to Parsons. At
1853 the procession formed. The men
walked entirely unassisted, and with
firm steps. AT 11:57 they reached the
the gallows. The scafold trap dropped
at 1908 p. m. ALL is quiet in The city.
THE FEELING IN MINNEAPoLIs
When the word was received in this
city last Thursday evening that Gov.
Oglesby had commuted the sentences
of Fielden and Schwab, but refused to
interfere in behalf Of the other anar-
chists, small groups might be seen COL
lected on the street corners discussing
the matter. A feeling that the Cover
nor acted as he thought just was gener-
ally expressed. Yet, strange as il may
seem, not by any means an 1nsigniA-
can't number felt that he might have
still further tempered Justice with
mercy and treated all alike.
Long before the hour OF execution
small groups of people gathered
anxious to catch the earliest tidings Of
the execution. No particular signi6-
canoe can be attached to this fact as it
was expected that the execution would
terminate in riot. The first news Of
the execution was received ait 1900.
There was some talk OF an indignation
meeting being held Sunday night, bus
nothing certain as to the truth of the re-
port has yet been ascertained.